Hello Everyone !

What are your plans for the Christmas Holidays?

Currently we are undecided. We might go camping or we might go to my husbands mothers second house in Ibaraki prefecture, either way I`m sure I will write about it here eventually. :) 

But this year is a difficult year for many people in Japan and abroad , many people have been struggling to make ends meet and my biggest goal this year is to bring some joy to those who are unable to provide a Christmas to their families this year within my own family and many of my Musician friends, but supporting their ventures by gifting them to others in my family.  SInce i`m so far away from home this is the least that I can do and feel like I`m able to have some involvement with my family from Japan for Christmas this year. 

Some of the top gifts that I am giving this year are :

3 months subscription to Canadas--  Todays Parent Magazine for those in my family that have new born babies this year ( we have 3 new little ones born this year! ) 

For those in my family who are religious I got them a subscription to Good News Daily devoltional for 1 year - sometimes keeping faith helps people stay strong through difficult times. It`s a simple gift that`s almost free . 

Due to the COVID -19 pandemic this year many of the children in my family ( there are a lot !! ) around 25 or so children in my family are unable to meet with Santa to tell him their wishes. So , I have arranged for them to meet with Santa 1 on 1 via Zoom . This Santa is a music friend of mines husband. He actually looks like Santa !! and is able to do meetings with children all over the world this way. They have lots of fun free activities on their website as well! 

Do you have any favorite memories of Santa ? I do ! maybe I will tell you in another blog ! 

 And my most recent gift that I have decided to give either by hard copy or digital gift is a Christmas album by my friends : The Freeman Brothers -- professional jazz musicians who have played with the likes of Micheal Buble from Canada. I am listening to their soomth Jazz album as I write this blog. It`s quite beautiful  and relaxing to listen too! 

Otherwise, I am almost ready for Christmas ! My bedroom is decorated with lights, garland and a tree :) and I`ve already started my Christmas  food shopping to be delivered in a few weeks by Pal-system. 


I hope your holiday preparations are going well ! 

Wishing you and yours the best of the season ! 

Warmly, 

StephanieRiann

UPDATE * We had a vacation from Dec 21st -24th , We had KFC  dinner and cake at my mother in laws on the 23rd and now today we will have a Japanese style dinner today! Enjoyed Dec 24th reading books and drinking Mulled Hot wine :) Merry Christmas !!